Mt. Rushmore Podcast

Remember back when we spent every waking moment worried that the Soviet Union would invade the United States or decide to launch a nuclear attack since those dirty Commies couldn't handle being on the same planet with BLAZING AMERICAN FREEDOM? Man, it sure is good that we don't have to worry about THAT anymore! We look back at the past - or prepare for the future - by remembering some pieces of po...

Once in a Blue Moon we get an idea for an episode that gets us All Shook Up. That's the case this week as It's Now Or Never for us to take a look at Fake Elvises (Elvii?) - whether they are impersonators, fictional portrayals or something else entirely. Elvis is pop culture and the different types of faux Elvises amplify the many different ways he can be viewed. Jeff, as always, is the King of thi...

An article of clothing can define a person - and that's definitely true when it comes to jackets. Some of the most iconic looks in pop culture history are closely tied to the jacket a person is wearing. Think about Marlon Brando in "The Wild Ones" or Joey Ramone on every Ramones album cover ever and you think about their leather jacket. It's a very broad topic, which is evident as Michael and Rich...

Hollywood releases roughly 248,000 movies every year, and about 10 of them are any good. It might seem that literally any movie will be released as soon as the first scene is shot, but that isn't the case at all. Many movies are planned - or even start filming - yet never make their way to America's multiplexes. So let's celebrate the cinematic masterpieces/disasters that never saw the light of da...

Not too long ago, we discussed all of the many annoying things that can happen when you go to a "rock & roll" concert. But yet we still keep going to shows! That's because when things go just right and everything clicks it can truly be magic. This week, we discuss some of the best concerts we've ever been to - for a variety of reasons. SHOW NOTES Michael's Choices The Cure - Festivalgelande (Wiess...

Let's face it: 2016's been a nightmare. We're sure it's just a coincidence that the worst year in recent memory happened at the same time we launched the first year of the podcast. Hopefully, we were able to provide you with a little light entertainment to give you a few hours of respite from the never ending drum beat of suck that this year became. It's a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE this week as we look...

There's no joy like waking up on Christmas morning to find out that Santa had brought you the perfect present; similarly, nothing is more disappointing than getting Go-Bots when all of your other friends got kick-ass Transformers, or being told that Santa "ran out" of Cabbage Patch Kids so you'll have to settle for a Raggedy Ann. With Christmas right around the corner, we look back at some of the...

Sure, everyone remembers R2-D2 and C3PO, but what about the lost souls of the Star Wars universe? OK, they are droids, so  technically they don't have souls, but they are still important, damn it!  Richard knows next to nothing about the world of secondary Star Wars droids. Which makes him the perfect judge as Michael and Jeff showcase their nerdery and argue about the merits of some of the lesser...

A TV show doesn't have to have a memorable theme song to be known as great - but it sure helps. The right theme song makes an immediate connection with the show. From the first notes of the song, you know what to expect and, over time, it creates a Pavlovian reaction as you instinctively are ready to watch. SHOW NOTES Michael's Choices Gilligan's Island "The Gilligan's Island Theme" - Hash House H...

Holy switcheroo, Batman! Usually, it's Michael and Richard debating the merits of their choices for a certain topic with Jeff serving as judge. But not this week as Jeff has some HOT TAKES that demand to be heard - even if the subjects aren't. In an unprecedented move, Jeff and Michael switch places. Now it's Richard vs. Jeff giving their Rushmore of Nonverbal Sidekicks. Who will win? Only Michael...

For 38 episodes, we've heard Michael and Richard do battle against in other in trying to come up with the perfect Mt. Rushmore for many topics. Now something unthinkable has happened. Like Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man, the Superpowers have teamed up to fight a common enemy - Disney Channel producer/minor Kansas City celebrity Scott Jones, a noted expert in all things Lego. Except the topic isn't L...

Happy Thanksgiving! Unless you're Canadian, then Happy About a Month After Thanksgiving! As a bonus treat to get you ready for Turkey Day, Michael, Richard and Jeff discuss their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Fill up your plate with plenty of aural fixings and get ready to stuff your ears with podcast goodness.

One of the things we often remember about our favorite games is the Power-Ups. These are the moments when something truly special happens. Suddenly, you have the upper hand, whether you are fighting masked ninjas or trying to kick your friend's ass in NBA Jam.  This week we put our quarters on the machine and take our turn going over some of the best Power-Ups of arcade and console games. A specia...

Are you stuck in a rut? Feeling trapped by life? Well, it's better than being stuck in a well or trapped in a cave. Cleithrophobia is the "fear of being trapped" and honestly, it doesn't seem like it's that unreasonable. Having to hack off your own arm to free yourself from a massive boulder? Doesn't sound like a lot of fun. This week we shine our searchlight on real and fictional people who have...

Boy, hasn't this Presidential election been a blast! Wait, no, scratch that – it's been a living hell. We might wish that it was fictional and it might seem like a bad dream, but it's happening. So let's blow off some steam and remind ourselves about some of the best Fictional Elections in history! This week, Michael and Richard debate the relevant issues of the day (i.e. whose Rushmore is better)...

He goes by many names. Satan. The Devil. Lucifer. Beelzebub. The Father of Lies. Mr. Scratch. The Parking Lot Attendant Who Makes You Pay Full Price When You Lose Your Ticket Even Though You Just Run Into Ross For Five Minutes. And there are just as many pop culture representations of him as there are names, likely because the entertainment industry lies clutched in his grip. Or because writers ar...

It's LADIES NIGHT at the Mt. Rushmore Podcast! And not in that creepy nightclub kind of way but in a fun karaoke way! This week the topic is Songs Drunk Women Sing at Karaoke, and it felt wrong for a bunch of guys to discuss this. Instead, we invited our wives to break it down. Emily and Sara put in their song slips, and don't forget to tip your KJ (Karaoke Judge) Jen. Order your Long Island Ice T...

You're all set - you have tickets to go see your favorite band. You're pumped, so you get there early and prepare yourself for a once-in-a-lifetime performance. Then the show starts and...everything falls apart. Join us as we - a bunch of 30- and 40-year-olds - tell the people who ruin our concert experiences to get off our lawn, and get off of the stage.

When it's time for the Mt. Rushmore Podcast to party, we will always party hard! In this episode, we take a look at the good, bad and crazy things that always seem to happen during a party. Michael is tapping the keg, Richard is yelling at the DJ to cut out that disco crap and Jeff is keeping an eye out in case the fuzz shows to to harsh our mellow. SHOW NOTES Richard's Choices Drinking Games, Bri...

A bit of a different episode this week - we went out to the LA Podcast Festival a couple of weeks ago and had a great time meeting some old friends and making new ones. While we were there, we decided to ask some of our fellow podcasters about who would be on THEIR Mt. Rushmore of Podcasts. And by "us" we mean Jeff, who basically was a one-man wrecking crew of awesomeness.

You know the saying: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, I'll punch you in the nose. I think that's right. Regardless, hoaxes have been around along as people have loved making other people look stupid. So, that is to say, forever. But some hoaxes are more memorable and creative than others. SHOW NOTES Michael's Picks Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot Film Wikipedia Entry (Seriously, It's Crazy) - h...

The actor. A man or woman solely dedicated to their craft of taking the works of the world's most talented playwrights and screenwriters and giving them life. Or, sometimes, they are happy to get a scene in a Fast & the Furious sequel with FIVE WHOLE LINES. Well, the hell with the Joe Schmo actors - we're only talking about the best of the best. This week, Richard and Michael try on the Masks of C...

There's nothing worse than going to your favorite bar or restaurant and having your night ruined by some lout without a clue about the concept of civility. Some people simply can't handle the basic manners required to eat anywhere but a Golden Corral, and even than they are probably cutting in line for the Chocolate Fondue Waterfall! Richard, Michael and Jeff know about eating and drinking – they'...

Baseball is our national pastime for a reason - there's nothing that says summer in the USA like taking the family to game, getting some hot dogs, drinks and peanuts, and then taking out a second mortgage to pay for all of it. But let's be honest - as great as baseball is, some of the best things about going to a game aren't necessarily about what happens on the diamond. There's a lot of time to k...

Let's be honest - if you brought four CDs with you on a deserted island, you'd probably use them for anything other than listening to music. You could sharpen the edges and use them as weapons to hunt birds or fish. Or shine them to reflect sunlight in hopes of catching the eye of a nearby boat or plane. Really, there are tons of uses for these things. But, the trope is there for a reason. Music h...